overlooked cinema Archives

This week I decided to do a little something different for my “overlooked entry.” Over the past few years, I have made it a goal of mine with this site, to talk about or highlight films that I love and that I feel are somewhat under-appreciated. This obviously fits in with the whole overlooked aspect of this Tuesday feature.

As a result, this week I have decided to go into my own archives and dig pick a few films that I have mentioned in the past that I would like to mention again.

Fish Tank (2010): directed by Andrea Arnold (Red Road, forthcoming Wuthering Heights adaptation) and starring recent Venice Film Festival winner Michael Fassbender.
Heavenly Creatures (1994): featuring the ever-awesome Kate Winslet in her feature film debut.
Shooting Dogs [AKA Beyond the Gates (2007)]: Came out around the same time as Hotel Rwandaa, therefore little seen. Which is a shame – it is still a moving heartbreaking story. Directed by Michael Caton Jones
Children of Men (2006): Easily one of my favorite films of the last 5, heck 10 years.
Never Let Me Go (2010/2011): Another one of those films that came in under the radar last year/this year. It is now on rotation on pay cable. Catch it if you can.
Appaloosa (2010): Delivers what is advertised on the tin; simply a nuts and bolts western.
My Last Five Girlfriends (2009): A very imaginative take on a man’s journey through the relationship maze.
Muriel’s Wedding (1994): The linked post was not directly related to Muriel’s Wedding but it does mention it. This is another one of those films I could watch over and over again.
Wait Until Dark (1967): A surprisingly thrilling film. Featuring Audrey Hepburn and Alan Arkin.
The Snake Pit (1948): Possibly Olivia deHaviland’s best work

For more overlooked films as well as reading an insightful blog in general, be sure to visit Todd Mason’s blog, Sweet Freedom.

I was first made aware of Max Ophüls’ Letter from an Unknown Woman (1948) when it was featured in one of my favorite books specifically about the treatment of women in the movies – From Reverence to Rape (written by Molly Haskell). As a result of her analysis of the film, I made it a personal mission of mine to seek it.

In a nutshell, Letter from an Unknown Woman is a story of unrequited love and the desperation, obsession (and mania) that can follow. It stars one of my favorite actresses from the era; Joan Fontaine is in the central role of a girl who grows into a woman who cannot seem to let go of a supposed romantic attachment (Louis Jourdan) of her youth. This steadfastness and devotion is disastrous and leads to tragic consequences.

The films works for me on many levels but principally the visuals are what have always captivated me; Letter always had a mystical, dreamlike for me.

FUN FACT (primary source: Wikipedia): In doing my research for this post, I discovered that film ending an the book ending differ. While both endings are equally ambiguous, the latter leaves the reader with more questions than answers about the fate of our male protagonist. There are also a few other structural changes to the plot but overall this film still reveals itself as a tragic love story.

* the film is available on DVD but it looks a little hard to come by – you may have to do some digging around.

Must give a mention: Last week while I was making my rounds in the film blogo-sphere I visited M. Carter at the Movies (LINK UPDATED) where they have reviewed a film that I think is worth a look at. I too is a film that I do not feel like got much sunlight on it during its initial run.

Tuesday’s Overlooked Film: from the iluvcinema “Vault”

Tuesday’s Overlooked Film: Letter From an Unknown Woman